Sandbox VRThe operator of a chain of location-based virtual reality experiences plans a major expansion with franchisees.
The company said it saw 60% growth in franchise deals in the second quarter, with plans to open 280 new franchise locations over the next four years.
The announcement comes on the heels of Sandbox VR’s 50th store opening on August 15. Located on the Gold Coast, the new location is the first Sandbox VR in Australia, expanding its global presence to four continents and nine countries.
Since opening its first store in Hong Kong in 2017, Sandbox VR has rapidly developed its global footprint with a thriving corporate-owned locations and robust franchising program. Today, its global locations see 100k players monthly.
In 2023, the company sold 1.2 million tickets and 2024 saw a 33% year-over-year increase in ticket sales. Sandbox VR’s corporate locations—37 in total—are a revenue milestone with the average store topping $1.9 million annually.
Sandbox VR’s franchise program began in 2019 for international markets and opened for US territories in April of this year. In those four months, 33% of available Sandbox VR US franchise territories have been claimed by new and existing franchise partners.
Franchising has been instrumental in making Sandbox VR the fastest-growing location-based VR startup globally, and this US momentum signals continued rapid growth, the company said. Limited opportunities for core locations and region exclusivity are still available in the US
“When I started building Sandbox VR, I started building the future of entertainment. I could never have succeeded without the right team of people helping me create the world’s most immersive experiences using bleeding edge virtual reality technology.” Sandbox VR CEO Steve Zhao said in a statement. “As we set our sights on expanding globally, we know it’s important to work with the right partners.”
Zhao added, “We are thrilled to announce the 50th Sandbox VR location in collaboration with our franchise partners, Bao Fung and Keith Le, and look forward to working with passionate franchise partners around the world to open hundreds more over the next four years. “
Sandbox VR’s United Kingdom and Ireland franchise partner, VR Entertainment Group, is a testament to the strength of the Sandbox VR franchise program, the company said. Since opening its first store in London in July 2022 — and its second in Birmingham a year later — it has surpassed $10 million in revenue.
“We considered a different location-based virtual reality company to explore our franchise opportunities, but ultimately decided we wanted to partner with category leader Sandbox VR,” said Bao Fung, owner of Sandbox VR Gold Coast. A statement. “Partnering with Sandbox VR was the most beneficial and strategic decision for our business, allowing us to introduce Australia to immersive games you can’t play anywhere else on the world’s most immersive full-body VR platform. The Gold Coast, which attracts 13 million visitors annually, is a natural choice for our first location. We look forward to introducing locals and visitors to a whole new reality.”
In London alone, VR Entertainment Group has seen a 16.8% increase in guests year-to-date and their 2024 revenue is projected to top $5 million.
“I believe our success is due to the strength of our partnership with Sandbox VR,” VR Entertainment Group CEO Andy Scanlon said in a statement. “Their world-class VR, brand and extensive corporate team, together with our local expertise and determination to build Sandbox VR into the leading immersive entertainment brand in the UK and Ireland, has led to an alliance to deliver truly amazing experiences for our guests.”
Sandbox VR is shaping the future of entertainment by creating the world’s most immersive that captures the movement of the player’s entire body, combining it with high-quality haptics to provide players with unprecedented realism and total immersion not possible with home VR or other location-based. VR platform. Guests’ own bodies act as their game controllers; All they have to do is step into the virtual world and participate in the action unfolding around them.
All Sandbox VR experiences—eight in total—are developed by in-house gaming studios in Hong Kong and Vancouver, led by game industry veterans, and designed specifically for groups to play as social experiences. Teams of up to six roam freely and explore virtual worlds together, while relying on each other to succeed.
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